Mugabe warns Mnangagwa faction

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has once again leapt to the defence of his wife, who is facing an internal revolt for trying to silence Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s backers in the bitter Zanu PF war to succeed the 92-year-old leader.

EVERSON MUSHAVA/TATENDA CHITAGU/ELIAS MAMBO

Mugabe yesterday spoke strongly against Zanu PF officials and followers that denigrate First Lady Grace Mugabe at his birthday celebrations held at the Great Zimbabwe ruins in Masvingo, where he also sang G40 faction kingpins’ praises.

President Robert Mugabe enjoys his cake at Great Zimbabwe monuments yesterday, while his wife, Grace, chats with Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs Pupurai Togarepi. Picture: Aaron Ufumeli

In a pointed attack directed at the Mnangagwa faction, Mugabe said those targeting youth leader Kudzayi Chipanga for challenging war veterans were wrong.

Chipanga has of late been a target of vicious attacks by the State-controlled media, which has been fighting in Mnangagwa’s corner against Grace’s G40.

Mugabe also seemed to be backing under-fire political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere who stands accused of targeting Mnangagwa’s supporters through suspensions.
Kasukuwere suspended three Zanu PF provincial chairpersons that allegedly stopped party supporters from attending a controversial rally in Harare where Mnangagwa was first put to the sword by the First Lady’s supporters early this month.

Mugabe warned “misguided and unruly youths” who were going to extremes in denigrating party leaders, including his wife. He said the party would not hesitate to deal with them.

The veteran ruler said it was unheard of in our culture for youths to attack their elders, worse still, the wife of the head of state.

“We hear a lot of misguided party members attacking my wife and that is very rude. These people do not respect us,” Mugabe said.

“We know there are some youths who are being given dagga to demonise their leaders and we will not accept that.”

The attack could have been directed at the Mnangagwa faction, whose members have been taking turns to savage Grace after her Chiweshe rally, where she attacked war veterans and Mnangagwa for allegedly fanning factionalism.

Former freedom fighters sympathetic to Mnangagwa led by War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa were forced to abandon a meeting just over a week ago allegedly to protest against Grace’s attack on the VP at her Chiweshe rally.

The abortive rally was followed by a media briefing by pro-Mnangagwa youths calling themselves Save Zimbabwe, led by former Mashonaland Central youth chair Godfrey Tsenengamu.

The youths attacked Grace warning they would fight her if she continued attacking Mnangagwa.

Another group of war veterans led by Francis Zimuto, who calls himself Black Jesus also dressed down Grace, advising her to stay at home and cook for Mugabe, while also telling her they only considered her as their step mother, and not First Lady.

Mugabe responded quickly by apologising to the war veterans, but attacked Mutsvangwa, saying he deserved the tear gas for leading the ex-freedom fighters in an illegal meeting which he knew nothing about.

The attack on Grace forced Chipanga to rally youths and prepare for a war against the former combatants he accused of disrespecting Mugabe.

However, the war veterans and youths aligned to Mnangagwa vowed to fight Chipanga.

But Mugabe yesterday said attacking his wife was a reflection of blatant disregard and disrespect of him as president of the country.

He described youth who attacked their elders as uncouth and claimed they were under the influence of dagga.

Mugabe said it was also a disgrace to observe that some of the youths were being paid to peddle falsehoods to foreign media about his wife.

Mugabe also took a swipe at party heavy weights taking advantage of the challenges affecting the youths, such as unemployment to abuse them in their pursuit of selfish interests.

“We cannot have such misguided youths, they have to be disciplined and respectively.

“Even senior party members, we must stop to work behind the scenes using the youths to play our games that is not the way to get to power. Factionalism is coming from the so called ‘party gurus,’ who abuse the youths,” Mugabe charged.

Mugabe also praised the party’s secretary for youth affairs Pupurai Togarepi, for working hard to ensure the success of the birthday bash.

Earlier on, Togarepi, who is believed to be a Mnangagwa ally, castigated the use of social media to attack other party members, threatening stern action against such members, a point buttressed by Mugabe during his address.

21 Responses to Mugabe warns Mnangagwa faction

We are eagerly waiting for the lacoste reply,or rather the murderous faction’s response.Lacoste is compromised by their adventure into matebeleland during gukurahundi.I have no sympathy for Black Jesus because he is getting what he deserves soon he will be ejected from the gravy train.What type of war vets who do not embrace change they are the reason land reform failed

So it seems as if Pupurai Togarepi is in neither basket. G40 / or Lacoste?? Be careful young man. Be open and take your side. Usaite tsukukuviri – kanyoka kaya kane misoro miviri!! Akuruma nzeve ndewako. Literally meaning; he who gives you advice is yours / or loves you!!

The party and government are now the properties of the First Family.Protocol or seniority in the party means nothing in this party.Mugabe’s wife is junior according to the politburo rankings,but that means nothing in Zanu pf. Anyone who seems to disagree on a certain issue, let alone criticising constructively is considered disrespecting the first lady,an offence synonymous with treason, that individual is dragged before the kangaroo court euphemistically called the disciplinary committee, is summarily charged found guilty and dismissed from the party,if that individual is lucky enough is slapped with a suspension.What is baffling is that the husband is ever defensive.It’s clear he is grooming uAmin omsikazi(female Amin).The Defences Commander,Gen Chiwenga realised that Jocylin was continuously misbehaving, in the process damaging his reputation and that of the Defence Forces or the country,he simply terminated that matrimonial relationship.Mugabe should simply tell his wife to stay home.

Clearly Bob is not neutral in the ZPF factional wars. He is siding with his wife and G40 against all odds. If Grace needs to be respected she needs to to respect herself first. Respect is earned and not attained by any other means. Grace needs to behave like a first lady and mother of the Nation.Period!

Alex magaisa ,for a 1st I agree wth yo commentary on the forma chinise 1st lady.if I wr a woman in Grace shoes I wuld listern to what Alex said.its axactly how it hapens,only that in Africa it can be worse brutal.Revenge in the african context exceeds expectations,goes ovabound.

Being loving to one’s husband does not make Gire a respectable First Lady. The president must be careful about taking sides as this will surely backfire. Now that the G40 has received support from the highest office in the party and the land, there shall surely be blood on the floor. Zanu yaparara

the president is spot on,you cannot denigrate the first lady whilst claiming allegience to the husband,the first lady has endured abuse from the day she married the president,some wanted the president for themselves whilst others were jealous the president had scored big on grace,those unhappy with the presidents leadership are free to start their own parties like tekere,simba makoni,mai mujuru,in zanu pf there is no room for dissent